Geneseo now has a Best Western hotel. Earlier this week, the hotel located near Interstate 80 passed final inspections needed to earn its Best Western franchise name.

Officially known as Best Western Geneseo Inn, the hotel not only has a new name, it also has a new look and a new owner.

The hotel, built less than a decade ago, has undergone numerous name changes since it's opening.

The previous owner lost the property to the bank.

"Blackhawk State Bank approached me about the property," said new owner Harshad Patel.

Patel owns other hotels in the area, and has owned the Best Western near the Quad City Airport for the past 20 years.

Patel called the Geneseo hotel "a newer property with good Interstate exposure."

He took over ownership of the hotel in June and has worked with Best Western officials since that time to qualify for a franchise.

"They came in June and did a study and gave us a list of recommendations," said Patel.

Best Western officials gave the Geneseo hotel their approval and, on Dec. 18, a new Best Western sign was unveiled at the site.

"We're officially a Best Western. It's exciting, because we've worked very hard these past few months," said Patel.

During the months of work, the Geneseo hotel received a lobby and breakfast room renovation and a new fitness room. In addition, all of the guest rooms were updated.

"We changed out the wall colors, put in new light fixtures, new bedding, new artwork, new drapes and new TVs," said Patel.

He plans to finish the hotel's pool area "within the next few months."

"Everybody in town has been looking forward to us having a pool," said Patel.

As a Best Western hotel, Patel said he hopes to attract those customers who are "loyal to the Best Western brand."

The Geneseo Inn will be a participant in the Best Western Rewards loyalty program.

Best Western Geneseo Inn has 55 rooms including one and two bed rooms. The hotel also has a hot-tub room and one room with three beds.

"We have a lot of business travelers staying with us as well as a lot of repeat guests," said Deb Taylor, the general manager for the Geneseo hotel. "We have people coming to Geneseo for family events, weddings, graduations and class reunions."

Taylor said hotel employees already have received positive comments on the new changes from repeat customers.

In addition to purchasing the now-Best Western in Geneseo, Patel also purchased the former Super 8 Motel on Route 6 in Geneseo.

The motel now is known as an America's Best Value Inn.

"We plan to start renovations at that location in the next few months," said Patel.